We’re lucky enough to see whales year round in San Diego! December-April is Grey Whale and Pacific white-sided dolphin season, May-September is Blue whale season, and Spring and Fall are humpback whale season! We also can see Minke whales, fin whales, and humpbacks throughout the year. Some more rare sightings we see sometimes are bryde’s whales and Risso’s dolphins. We also have unexpected visitors pass through sometimes, so every trip is a chance to see something new.

Each cruise lasts approximately 2–3 hours.

The voyage departs right from Mission Bay, so you’ll be out into the open Pacific Ocean and looking for wildlife in just 10 minutes.

Yes! Several dolphin species, including Common and Bottlenose Dolphins, are seen year-round.

Yes, guests of all ages are welcome, and onboard naturalists make it fun and educational.

Yes, the boat offers both indoor and outdoor seating options.

Yes, snacks and beverages are available for purchase onboard.

We do not have a ramp to board or depart the boat. All guests including those with disabilities or use a wheelchair must be able to transfer into and out of the boat by themselves or with the assistance of a member in their party.

Yes, we can accommodate manual wheelchairs, however, you must be able to get up and down a few steps. We do not have a ramp to board or depart the boat. Due to the weight of an electric wheelchair, we cannot have one on board. All guests including those with disabilities or use a wheelchair must be able to transfer into and out of the boat by themselves or with the assistance of a member in their party.

During the summer months, holidays and weekends there is a lot of traffic in Mission Bay so please plan to arrive early to find a parking spot. There are three parking options for San Diego Whale Watch: -Free street parking on Quivira Road (we recommend you park on the street) -$10 paid parking in Sportsman's Seafood lot (paid for at our ticket booth) -Paid parking in Hyatt Mission Bay lot (we will provide a parking validation at the ticket booth should you choose this option which will take care of some of the cost) Any other parking lots in the area are private and have towing signs and restrictions. We also recommend using an app-based car service such as Uber or Lyft.

We’re often unable to answer the phone while assisting guests during check-in. For the most immediate response, please email us directly at contact@sdwhalewatch.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as the boat has safely departed — usually 10-15 minutes after departure. You may also leave us a voicemail. We respond to all voicemails and emails within 24 hours, but often before that. We cannot hold the boat for tardy parties, however, we can rebook you to a later time or date if applicable. A $2.50 rebooking fee per person applies.

You’re welcome to bring food and personal items—just no glass containers or alcohol. We sell drinks and light snacks on board as well. Please keep all belongings with you during the trip. We do not have storage lockers and cannot hold luggage or large bags at the Ticket booth.

Please do not bring glass containers, alcohol, cigarettes or vaporizers, or drones. We have alcohol available for purchase after 3 miles out. Our boats are non smoking vessels. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, pipes, and any other smoking devices. Drones are not permitted at this time. There are many general rules and regulations regarding drones, in addition to the guidelines under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Drone operators must be licensed by the FAA and must adhere to no-fly zone limitations covering a vast majority of San Diego.

We do not offer refunds if you do not see a whale or a dolphin. We try our hardest to find whales and dolphins on every trip. If we don’t see either baleen whales or toothed whales (such as dolphins), you’ll receive a free return pass for a future whale watch. While we can’t promise sightings every time, we promise another chance if dolphins or whales don’t cooperate.